John 5:31-47
Testimonies About Jesus
31 "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid.
33 "You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
36 "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
41 "I do not accept praise from men, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?
45 "But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"
Jesus, it sounds in these verses, that He is speaking in a court room and defending Himself...In Old Testament Law two witnesses were needed to establish and convict a man of a crime or offense (Deuteronomy 19:15)...Jesus says He has two witnesses...One is John the Baptist...The other is His Father, God...The testimony of the Father is much weightier than the testimony of John the Baptist...The miracles He has done through His Father, has validated His testimony...The nonbelievers do not believe, because they have never heard the Father's voice, nor does He dwell in them (the nonbelievers)...If you do not have faith, God is not near...You are separated from God...They are nonbelievers who do not believe in Him, therefore, they do not believe in the One who sent Him...Yet these same nonbelievers diligently study the Bible...They think because they study and are knowledgeable of the Scriptures, they will have eternal life...Jesus reminds everyone that they must have faith in the Father and Son to have eternal life...
Most of the nonbelievers want praise from men, and that is important to them...Jesus is completely focused on God... Man, often looks for praise from other men...Jesus states He does not even accept praise from other men, because God is the center of His life...This is an interesting comment, because of His love for man and will later die for all of us (but He is talking about praise here, and not love)...But He does not need our praise...What He wants for us and Himself is to be with the Father...He loves His followers and mankind, but praise of Him does add to His love and union with the Father...Our lives should be focused on the Father...
His teachings here, help us understand better the Trinity better...God is a witness for Him, which makes Father distinct from the Son....The Holy Spirit, is another witness for Jesus, if you are a believer...The Spirit of Truth, or the word that dwells in us, is only there if you believe in the Father and the Son...
Then Jesus tells them that their accuser is really Moses...Moses writes in Deuteronomy 18:14-22 that a Prophet would rise up among the brothers of the Hebrews and God would put the works in His mouth...If what this Prophet says does not take place then he is not a prophet, but if what He says comes true and He follows the word of the LORD then He is a Prophet from the LORD...Jesus is the One Moses spoke and wrote about...If they believe in Moses then they believe in Him...Jesus' words, actions, and deeds fulfilled the prophecy of the Old Testament...